J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by ise

Two of the biggest players in the market are PGL and Acorn who go most places.

Trying to arrange it yourself isn't something I'd recommend personally, although in Switzerland at least there's quite a lot of suitable accommodation you'd need to book a long, long way in advance and my guess is you'd have some issues getting the arrangements past any local authority although it'll vary as to how clued up they are.

bandit wrote:
Not seen ise anywhere yet, but the folks we were with today, saw him yesterday in a restaurant :wink:

I was out of the valley on other business today, just got back :lol:

40km, that's around Nyon then?

It may be just as easy to go somewhere like Leysin or Villars although it's a good chance to visit somewhere like goff suggests in the Jura if the conditions are good.

Tony_H wrote:UK models of car differ dramatically from their european counterparts. In winter, you will notice that all the smart Audis, BMWs, Mercs and VWs have standard black steel wheels on, so as to accommodate snow chains and winter tyres. Over here, we are all so obsessed with having shiny high profile big fat alloy wheels that none of these are any good for fitting chains on to, and many wont even take winter tyres. Most people who live in or near mountains or in places where winter tyres are often needed own 2 sets of wheels complete with summer tyres on their spangly alloys and winter tyres on their steel wheels.

if you bought a set of steel wheels and winter tyres, I am sure you would find some snow chains that fit them.

There are of course exceptions to the rule, where snow chains fit some vehicles alloy wheels perfectly, eg 4 wheel drive vehicles and other models I am not familiar with, but I own a Seat Leon and previously had a VW Passat and found similar problems with them both.

That's not really true. It is true that some smaller cars can use steel wheels but it's not true that anything with power can, like "smart Audis, BMWs, Mercs" etc with the exception of the "value" end of those with the inadequate engines. Here in Switzerland wheel and tyre choices are part of the MOT type test and must be specifically approved for the car you're putting them on and steel wheels are not allowed for any powerful car.

It's also not true that people are changing wheels to accommodate snow chains, the reason is much more simple, low profile tyres aren't effective in full winter conditions so there aren't really any. It's only a tiny minority of people that would be remotely interested in using snow chains and they would get that coincidental benefit that snow chains can be fitted or fitted easier.

I wouldn't necessarily expect the information given by VW is correct either. Several types of chains are specifically made for low clearance like Spikes/Spiders or Rud Centrax for example. They offer some reduced performance compared to other chains but are generally adequate. Autosocks are a step down again and are generally reported in European motoring organisation tests as having inadequate performance.

RossF wrote:Are you speaking from experience? A couple of my best days skiing last year were bluebird powder days in Scotland. The press is often quite bad (although improving) so a lot of you folks get bad ideas about it.

Agreed :lol: The confusion might be related to Cairngorm though, it's about the windiest place in the UK very often. I did my IML speed test up there and you could barely standup, as it was gusting you never quite got the wind behind you :lol:

More photo's needed though :D

RossF wrote:What are the freezing levels like? It looked like there was a spike in the temps from the GFS coming in with the next front...

Concerned for Sainte Foy that it may get some rain lower down!

good question, it's the warmest it's been for about two months. Our snow level is around 1000m but it's not the cold, light powder we've been having so far. I'm nor we're expecting an immediate return to those cold temperatures.

I think we'll have a snowy week now, picking up towards a metre more over the week looking at the synoptics I'd say.

RossF wrote:Photos or it isn't happening :wink:

how about these ? :lol: